A total of 2,115 cartons of untaxed cigarettes worth RM1.49 million were seized in three raids conducted across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor today.
The raids were carried out under Op Taring Alpha 1 by the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Intelligence Special Investigation (WCB/PSK) of the General Operations Force, Department of Internal Security and Public Order (JKDNKA), Bukit Aman, between noon and 1.30pm.
WCB/PSK JKDNKA Bukit Aman Commander Datuk Mohd Zaki Ashar said the first raid in Desa Petaling led to the arrest of a 30-year-old local man, who was believed to have acted as a cigarette courier and storekeeper.
He said checks uncovered 553 cartons of cigarettes from various brands worth RM378,160, along with a Toyota Rush and two mobile phones.
“The second raid, also in the Desa Petaling area, resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old local man believed to be involved in delivering cigarettes.
“Police found 372 cartons of cigarettes worth RM310,112, together with a Perodua Alza and three mobile phones,” he said in a statement today.
Information obtained from the first suspect during questioning subsequently led the enforcement team to a premises in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, which was believed to have been used as a temporary storage facility for untaxed cigarettes.
The third raid resulted in the seizure of another 1,190 cartons worth RM811,580, bringing the total value of cigarettes seized to RM1,499,852.
Mohd Zaki said the overall value of the seizures, including two vehicles and five mobile phones, was estimated at RM1,661,352.
Preliminary investigations found that the first suspect had allegedly been involved in delivering cigarettes for about six months, while the second had reportedly been carrying out the activity for around nine months.
“The premises raided were believed to have served as temporary storage locations before the cigarettes were distributed to outlets around Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Both suspects have been detained to assist investigations under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Meanwhile, WCB/PSK JKDNKA Bukit Aman has recorded 13 cases and 17 arrests under Op Taring Alpha 1, involving total seizures worth approximately RM9.6 million.
From January 1 to August 17, 2026, a total of 240 raids were conducted nationwide, resulting in 413 arrests, with the total value of seized items estimated at RM314.18 million.
